Faith’s Temptation (Dueling Dragons MC Book 1) (10 page)

I’m so drunk that all I can do is laugh and say "wee" the whole time I’m over his shoulder.

Hiccup.

Uh-oh! That’s not a good sign. Ryder must be thinking the same thing because he sighs and puts me down gently next to the car as he unlocks the doors.

“Faith, babe. If you gotta puke, let me know and I’ll pull over. Just whatever you do, don’t puke in the car. Okay?” He rubs my cheek with his thumb.

I try to focus on him, but I can’t. “Wherr arr we goin’?” I slur out to him.

“I’m takin’ you home and putting your little ass to bed.” He laughs as he sets me down in the car.

“Okay, I’ll let ya!” I say with a wink, trying to be all sexy but completely failing.

***

Ryder

Driving down the highway headed toward the truck stop, I look over at Faith who is drunker than a skunk, bobbing and mumbling to the music that’s playing.

I reach over and grab ahold of her hand and squeeze it with mine.

“Mmm....Ryder....” She mumbles a little more.

God, she really is drunk, isn’t she?

I smile to myself and remember that if she is saying my name in her sleep, that means she’s thinking about me.

Bringing her hand down to my lap, I’m instantly struck with the thought of her reaching into my jeans, pulling my cock out, and stroking it.

Get rid of those tempting thoughts.
Shaking my head, I let go of her hand and she retracts it. Peering over at her, I see a small smile form on her face.

Damn, she’s beautiful.
Is that all I can muster when I see Faith, drunk in the front seat of my sister’s car?

Then Ziggy and my sister’s words race back to the forefront of my mind, and I instantly focus on the road again.
Don’t get caught up, Ryder. Don’t do it.

Sighing, I turn my attention back to getting Faith home safe. She’s probably going to be embarrassed in the morning. I reach down and turn the music up in an attempt to drown my own thoughts out.

***

Faith

I sit straight up in bed. “What the fuck?” I say out loud and instantly regret it. The last thing I remember from last night is Ryder carrying me up the stairs.

“Ugh.” I grab ahold of my throbbing head and flop back down on the bed. Rolling over slightly, I fumble for my phone, flipping it over and pushing the button on the bottom. The screen lights up. “Only 9:00 a.m. I didn’t sleep in too long.”

Sitting up again, but slower this time, I glance down and see that I’m in the exact same outfit that I wore last night. Leaning back, I prop myself up against the headboard and try to steady my head. I have the worst case of the spins.

After I ride out the dizziness for a couple of minutes, I move to the side of the bed and let my legs dangle for a second. I scan the end table and see a glass of water and two Advil sitting there. I grab the pills and pop them in my mouth.

Eww
! My mouth tastes like Guinness and puke. I get up and make my way into the bathroom. Good to see that I cleaned my bathroom last night after I finished puking.

I brush my teeth and jump in the shower, hoping it will make me feel more human.

After my shower, I’m finally half-normal and decide to grab my iPod and put it in the docking station.

I crank it up as loud as I want because I have no neighbors. I start to hear
Imagine Dragons
flow out of the speakers and into my ears. I dance my way to my closet and pull out a blue tank top that says, “Mean people suck; Nice people swallow” on its front. I’ve had this shirt for ages and love it.

I pull out some cut-off jean shorts and a pair of white Ked’s. I’ve gotta work, so I’m not going to get too dressed up. I put on some light makeup to make the dark circles under my eyes go away and walk out of my bedroom into the kitchen to start coffee.

“That’s a hell of a way to wake someone up, babe, by blaring music. Think you might wanna wait ‘til afternoon for that,” Ryder says from the living room.

I scream for a second, scared shitless that he’s still here. Glad I didn’t walk out naked.

“What the hell are you doing here? How did you get in here, and how did I get home?” I fire questions at him as I prepare the coffee. I am way too hungover for this. “You know what, never mind. I think I can figure it out, and I guess I should say thanks,” I say to him without looking right at him.

“Well, you were a little drunk last night. Not surprised you don’t remember much.” He lets out a small chuckle. “After we got back from the bar I brought you upstairs.”

Instantly embarrassed, I realize
Oh God, he was here for me puking. Is he the one that cleaned up after me?
“Yeah, about that….” I give him a small smile.

“Don’t worry about it.” He waves his hand at me as he sits on the couch to put his boots on. “I’ve seen enough shit in my life, it doesn’t phase me.” He shrugs as he puts his other boot on.

“Well, I don’t usually do things like that.” My face instantly flushes thinking of the possibilities of what I said to him last night. I continue to make the coffee while Ryder gets all of his stuff together and prepares to head out the door.

“So, I’ll see you before I leave? Remember, this run could be a long one. We really aren’t sure of what’s gonna happen,” he says from the entryway.

“Well, do what you gotta do, I guess,” I say to him simply.

“Okay, well, I will see you later then.” He walks over and gives me a half-hug and kiss on the cheek.

“Bye,” I manage to breathe out as he turns and walks out the door.

***

Walking into the diner, I can feel the glare from Layla.
What the hell did I do now?
I say to myself as I pass her and head to the backroom to clock in. Wrapping the strings of my apron around me, I head to the front, but Layla confronts me first.

“What the hell happened last night?” She props her hand on her hip. “When I got up this morning, my car wasn’t back in my garage. But then when I get here, it’s parked in the spot for your apartment. Mind telling me what’s going on?” She shakes her head at the end.

I sigh and turn around, headed out back. “Layla, come with me and smoke.” I wave my arm in the air for her to follow me.

“Fine, I guess, but you better tell me all the details.” She slaps her hands on her hips and follows me.

Headed out the back door, I reach down and snatch my smokes from my pocket. “I’m not sure about everything that happened last night. I thought I was gonna be able to hold my own, but I forgot it’s been a while since I’ve drank much. Last thing I remember is being in the car. Next thing I know, I wake up in my bed with my mouth tasting like someone shit in it. Your brother was in my living room when I came out to make coffee.”

I stop to take a drag of my smoke. “Guess it’s a good thing you have a comfy couch in the apartment.” I start to laugh and I see the roughness start to crack in Layla’s face. “I woke up in the same damn clothes you put me in yesterday, if that makes you feel better about it.”

She grabs me by surprise and hugs me. “Oh, honey, I was so worried. I thought something happened and that he got to you somehow and—” She stops mid-sentence, staring over my shoulder, and I hear someone coming up behind me.

I turn and see Ryder walking toward us. Stepping to the side, he reaches for his sister.

 “Come here and give me a hug, Layla, so I don’t have to hunt you down before I leave.” He grabs ahold of her small hand, pulling her to him, and she softens in his embrace.

“Is this your last run? When you gonna stop paying for a debt that has long since been paid? It died with Daddy,” I hear Layla saying to her brother in a hushed tone.

“I’ve got one more after this. Then I’m done. For good.” He chops the air with his hand. “I think I found something that makes me wanna be a different man. I wanna see where it goes.” Ryder’s not very subtle at all, and I hear everything he is saying to Layla.

Kissing her on the forehead, Ryder backs away telling her that he loves her and he’ll be back in a few days. It feels like we’re sending him off for good, as if we’re never going to see him again. Wow, now I understand what military wives feel like when they send their men off to war. Only difference is, this isn’t my man, and he isn’t going to war.

“Layla, can I get a minute with Faith before I leave?” He peers over at me and then back at Layla.

“Yeah, yeah, take all the time you need, honey. Be careful, Ryder. I love you.” She tosses her butt and saunters back inside.

“Faith, come here, please.”

I walk over to a stack of tires next to Ryder and take a seat. God, he’s so ruggedly handsome in his faded blue jeans with a hoodie over his shirt and a pair of chunky black boots on his feet.

We sit there for a few seconds, neither one of us saying anything, when Ryder breaks the silence. “I have two questions for you, and I’d like you to tell me the truth. But if you’re not comfortable talking about this stuff right now, we can talk later.”

He has a very commanding tone to his voice and it’s hard to distinguish whether I’m frightened or turned on. “Okay, I always tell the truth, Ryder. But why so demanding?”

“Because, Faith, I asked you a couple of days ago if you wanted me to take you back home and, well, you never answered. I’d like an answer,” he says with a matter-of-fact tone to his sexy voice.

“Oh, well, I thought you were joking.” I honestly thought he was. I gawk at him with surprise. I shrug and look over at him, “Ryder, to be honest, I’d really need to give it some thought. Okay?” I speak with the most gentle voice I can muster in hopes that I don’t hurt his feelings.
Does he even have feelings?

“That’s fine, thanks for answering. Next thing is....” He gets a very serious expression. “Will you wait for me?”

“Uh....” I’m not sure what to say next, or even how to respond.

Ryder wipes his palms on his jeans. “W-what I meant was....” He stutters a little bit. “Shit,” he whispers, turns his head, and runs his hand through his hair.

Clearing his throat, he peers over at me. “What I mean is, will you be here when I get back? I hope to not be gone long, but if something happens, will you wait for me?”

Looking at each other, I see the concern in his eyes, the genuine man. He’s acting so different and so…so very human right now. It’s actually scaring me some.

“Ryder, you okay? Is something going to happen?” I reach down and grab his hands. “Why are you asking me this? You’re going to be fine. You’re going on a normal drop-and-hook like you said last night at dinner. It’s nothing, just a gravy run. Remember?” I wave and give him a grin, but his facial expression doesn’t change.

I press my hand to his cheek.

He turns his head and kisses my palm, then the inside of my wrist. I instantly get goose bumps. “Just tell me that you’ll wait for me.” He nuzzles his nose and lips around inside my cupped hand.

“Yes, I’ll wait for you, Ryder. I don’t know why, but something tells me that I will wait for you. You’re an asshole, but I will be here.” I grin at him and laugh to try and lighten the mood.

He smiles, pulls me to my feet, and gives me the biggest hug. “Thank you, Faith. I’m so glad that you came into my life. You’ve given me reason to be a better person. Thank you.”

He holds me so tight that I feel like I could pop in half. I just snuggle in more and inhale his scent. Man, cologne, and diesel. Sounds strange, but on him it smells heavenly.

“I don’t know what makes you think I’m so special. I’m just a normal girl from a normal town. Just like you.” I look down at the ground and start to turn away from him. I stop mid-turn, spin back around, and point my finger at him. “Well, wait a second, not
just
like you. But I mean, like, you as a human.”

Ryder lets out a low laugh edged by a growl. He stands in front of me, lifts my chin with his finger, then holds my face in his hands. Lowering his head, our lips gently connect. He drags his mouth over mine as he starts to deepen the kiss more. I reach up and grip his arms.

Stopping the kiss, Ryder rests his forehead against mine and we make eye contact. “When are you going to start trusting me and trusting what you feel? Think about it while I’m gone, Faith. Please, think about it.” He kisses me on the end of my nose and then on my forehead and turns toward the rear lot where his truck is parked and running.

I watch him leave and I think about what little time we’ve spent together. I know I worry about getting hurt again because of my past, but I don’t understand why Layla thinks that Ryder is going to hurt me. Everything he has ever said to me seems pretty legit. What could be so wrong about him?

Shrugging, I turn and head into the diner to start my shift for the day.

Ryder

“WAIT FOR ME.”

I can’t believe I uttered those words to her, and then she said yes, she would, in fact, wait for me. Then, to top it all off, I kissed her and it took everything in my fuckin’ power to push away from her.

The second I felt those sweet, soft, pink lips hit my rough mouth, my dick got so fuckin’ hard. If I wouldn’t have pulled away, I would have ended up fuckin’ her on top of a stack of tires.

What am I saying? I won’t ever get the chance to fuck her. Everyone’s right—the second she finds out what I’ve done, she’ll be gone. See ya! Won’t ask fuckin’ twice, she’ll be gone.

Headed on I-40 toward Amarillo, I look out my window and see Ziggy on my right. To my left is Flem. Both of these guys have been with me since day one, but Flem tends to keep to himself.

We’ve had an awkward relationship ever since I broke his sister’s heart when I got out of prison. I can’t have an ol’ lady that I don’t trust, and it was hard as fuck to trust Bambi. I wanted nothing to do with her ass after that.

Hearing my phone ring, I grab it and see that it’s Ax.

“Yo, bro, what’s up?” I put the phone up to my ear and rest my left elbow on the door to hold it up.

“Yeah, Ryder. We got some shit going down. Come to the clubhouse. We’re calling an important church meeting. Send Tweetle-Dee and Tweetle-Dumb back to Layla’s and sit pretty for a while.”